What is the “400 Bad Request Error Message?”

The 400 Bad Request Error Message “Request Header or Cookie Too Large” refers to the need to clear your cookies.

What are Cookies? “Cookies” are small packets of data sent to your browser from websites you visit. Your browser saves the information so you don’t have to re-enter it every time you visit the site. While visiting the Nicole the Math Lady site, you’ll receive cookies to help keep track of which lessons you’ve completed or of the answers entered in online grading.

When do cookies become a problem? Cookies operate in the background, but sometimes you may need to delete them. The cached data in cookies can sometimes conflict with an update on the website (ex. an update to a lesson or online grading answer). Also, since cookies are actually files on your hard drive, they take up space. They may need to be cleared occasionally because the “cookie container” is full and can’t receive any more information.

What do I need to do? If you get a 400 Bad Request Error message, clear you cookies. To prevent the error message in the future, you can have your students work in different browsers or have them work on different computers (or just clear cookies when you receive the message.)